Mass. man sentenced on RI drug charges

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- A Taunton man has been sentenced to serve 20 years in federal prison for trafficking cocaine in Rhode Island.

Hector L. Rodriguez, 42, pleaded guilty back in April to charges of possession with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine.

In September of 2011, DEA agents observed Rodriguez and another individual operate several vehicles in and out of a warehouse on Dunnell Lane in Pawtucket. One of the vehicles, a tractor truck, was stopped the next day in New Jersey and was found to contain substantial amounts of cash and cocaine.

Agents then were able to obtain a search warrant for the warehouse, where they were able to seize 30 kilograms of cocaine, worth about a half a million dollars.

Rodriguez was also ordered to serve five years supervised release following his prison term.